Understanding Hepatitis C: Causes, Symptoms, and Testing Methods
Hepatitis C is a silent viral infection that can lead to severe liver damage if untreated. This article explores causes, symptoms, and modern diagnostic methods, emphasizing the importance of screening, especially for high-risk groups like those born between 1945 and 1965. With effective oral therapies now available, early detection and proper testing are key to managing and curing hepatitis C. Learn about transmission, symptoms, and diagnostic procedures to better understand this common yet often unnoticed disease.
Understanding Hepatitis C: Causes, Symptoms, and Testing Methods
Hepatitis C is a viral disease characterized by inflammation of the liver, which can sometimes cause severe liver damage. The primary transmission route is through infected blood. Historically, treatment involved weekly injections and oral drugs, but many patients faced side effects and health restrictions that limited medication use. Nowadays, oral medications taken daily for over two months effectively cure chronic HCV. Nearly half of those infected remain unaware of their condition, often because early symptoms are absent.
HCV often remains silent for years, with symptoms appearing only after significant liver damage. The CDC recommends a one-time blood screening for those at higher risk, especially individuals born between 1945 and 1965, who are five times more likely to be infected.
- Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE): A non-invasive imaging technique combining MRI with sound waves to create a visual liver map, indicating fibrosis with increased stiffness.
- Transient Elastography: An ultrasound-based, non-invasive test that measures liver stiffness by sending vibrations and analyzing their dispersal, which helps evaluate damage.
- Liver Biopsy: Performed under ultrasound guidance, this involves inserting a thin needle to extract liver tissue for laboratory analysis.
- Blood Tests: If initial screening indicates hepatitis C, additional blood tests measure viral load and genotype, providing crucial information for treatment planning.
